GRAVES may have to be re-used as Britain runs out of space to bury its dead.

A report into the state of the country's graveyards reveals a sad picture of neglect and vandalism and a desperate shortage of burial sites.

The Commons environment committee, which drew up the report, rebuked the local government minister Hilary Armstrong for failing to take the problem seriously.

It warned that if the public is to have access to affordable burial there appeared to be no alternative to the re-use of graves.

Bodies cannot be removed or disturbed without a Home Office licence, which is not granted for the purpose of re-using graves.

''As a result, whereas old cemeteries may be re-used for residential, commercial or other development, they may not be re-used as burial grounds,'' say the MPs.

The government drew up a report on the possibility of using graves again after 75 years but did not publish it because they thought it was a sensitive subject.

Home Office Minister Paul Boateng said many people would not agree with it.

But the MPs conclude: ''We believe once the situation has been explained the public will be quite amenable to the idea of being buried in a re-used grave, particularly in a local churchyard or cemetery, which may be preferable to being taken many miles to a cemetery.''

The inquiry is the first major look at cemetery policy since the burial crisis of the mid 19th century, which forced the government to act.

Committee chairman Labour MP Andrew Bennett (Denton and Reddish) said: ''These days few cemeteries retain their original glory and large numbers have been allowed to decay into virtual wildernesses.

''Neglect by both central and local government has resulted in unsafe, littered, vandalised and unkempt cemeteries which shame all society in their lack of respect for the dead and the bereaved.''

The cover of the report includes photographs of cemeteries in Greater Manchester taken by Mr Bennett.

During their inquiry the MPs received evidence from Manchester Crematorium, from Stockport council and from Rochdale council, whose cemetery's geological walk won praise.